SMDI Taps GM's Dr. Hall as Head of Automotive Programs

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Aug 04, 2014, 01:00 ET

DETROIT, Aug. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), announced today that Dr. Jody N. Hall, former Technical Integration Engineer at General Motors Company Global Body Manufacturing Engineering Center in Warren, Michigan, will succeed Ronald P. Krupitzer as Vice President Automotive Market for the Institute. Krupitzer, who has held the position for 13 years, will retire at the end of the year.

Dr. Jody N. Hall, incoming Vice President Automotive Market for the Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI). (PRNewsFoto/SMDI)

Thomas J. Gibson, president and CEO of AISI, said, "Our auto market division is aggressive and fast-paced, and we are pioneering technological advances in auto steel. Dr. Hall will be an outstanding leader as we meet the challenges of competing materials head on. We look forward to her breadth of knowledge and expertise in driving this critical market division."

Lawrence W. Kavanagh, president of SMDI, said, "We are very excited to have Dr. Hall join us after a distinguished thirty-year career at General Motors. Jody brings the experience, innovation and enthusiasm to our team that will carry on the successes established during Ron's distinguished tenure."

Dr. Hall received her doctorate in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan, under a General Motors Fellowship in 1994 and has spent a large part of her career in applying new steels and manufacturing techniques in automotive applications. Dr. Hall has led the way in manufacturing engineering innovations in her roles on the GM Global Sheet Metal Specialists Team, Auto/Steel Partnership, Galvanizing AutoBody Partnership, and the Advanced Steel Processing and Products Research Center (ASPPRC) at Colorado School of Mines. Among other accomplishments, she has evaluated new auto technologies for implementation including new sheet steel grades and manufacturing processes, developed business cases and action plans for deployment of key new technologies, and led global project implementations.

"I'm looking forward to leading SMDI's Automotive Team and to the many opportunities and challenges the industry presents," said Dr. Hall. "It's an exciting time to work in automotive materials and help define the path for automakers to achieve their fuel economy targets with steel."

AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI is comprised of 22 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and approximately 125 associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry.

SMDI grows and maintains the use of steel through strategies that promote cost-effective solutions in the automotive, construction and container markets, as well as for new growth opportunities in emerging steel markets. For more news or information, visit www.autosteel.org or follow us on Twitter at @DriveUsingSteel. SMDI automotive investors include: AK Steel Corporation, ArcelorMittal Dofasco, ArcelorMittal USA, Nucor Corporation, Severstal North America and United States Steel Corporation.

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SOURCE Steel Market Development Institute